Mr. January: Rafe Medici, extremely eligible millionaire
Status: Power is his only partner
Situation: He’s a papa, and the last to know
Fatherhood was not on his agenda. Yet once Rafe learned he had an heir, he was determined to get the child under his roof. Only the boy’s guardian, Nicole Livingstone, stood between him and his desire. No one denied a Medici, and if it took seduction to win over Nicole, Rafe was happy to try. But in getting the beautiful woman to soften, this wealthy bachelor had best be certain she didn’t get him to change his no-love rule.
Leanne Banks is a national #1 best-selling author with over 50 published books. Every time Leanne says she’s written 50 books, she is stunned! Why? Because she’s often not sure she will finish whatever book she is writing until she hits the 100 page mark! Leanne has loved romance since first hearing the story of Cinderella as a little girl. She’s always had a weakness for a good romance in many forms, books, films and musicals like “Sound Of Music”, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and “My Fair Lady”. Leanne first starting writing romance in 1988 and set a crazy goal of writing and selling her first book within two years. Again, though it surprised her, she achieved her goal and used her advance to take her family to Walt Disney World. Leanne has done a lot of fun things as a result of her career. She and her family took a trip to Hawaii to attend a Romance Writers of America national convention. Leanne has won a bunch of awards and been a finalist three times for the Romance Writers of America RITA award. Leanne has also been a presenter for the RITA and Golden Heart Awards. She loved that! That’s actually how Leanne first met Heidi Betts, because Heidi was up for a Golden Heart when Leanne was presenting.
Leanne’s books have made several appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. One of Leanne’s book launch parties took place at a DSW in New York! Another launch took place during fashion week with a fashion show that featured models with painted-on bustiers (!!!) modeling shoes. Leanne also appeared as a clue in a New York Times crossword puzzle. Too cool!
Leanne collaborated on a book with Janet Evanovich and that book hit the New York Times bestseller list. Leanne has also delivered a bunch of speeches and workshops that allowed her to meet a lot of great people. If all goes well, Leanne will see 5 books published in 2010!!! Even though she works very hard, she’s not totally sure how that happened.
The first of her “Medici Men” series for Silhouette Desire will hit the shelves in January with FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA!, in February with THE PLAYBOY’S PROPOSITION, and in March with SECRETS OF THE PLAYBOY’S BRIDE. Another Desire will be published in June. Leanne has just signed a new contract to write Special Editions for Silhouette and is really looking forward to getting some of the humor back in her stories.
Anyone who’s met her will tell you that Leanne Banks is a sweetheart. Which is why I’m so delighted to finally have her as a guest here in The Dungeon. (We’ve been talking about having her visit for ages now.)
She’s right, by the way, that we first met at a RITA/GH rehearsal, but I want to be really clear that I had been a fan of Leanne’s books long before that. She is actually one of the authors who inspired me to write for Desire to begin with, so she will always hold a very special place in my heart. Oh, & the fact that she gave me an awesome quote for TANGLED UP IN LOVE doesn’t hurt, either. 
Leanne has also very generously offered to give away not one, not two, but three copies of the first book in her “Medici Men” mini-series, FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA! during her visit—one after each week’s guest blog. Yay!
So get chatting & we’ll let you know who the first winner is later in the week. 
First off…wiping drool off my keyboard…that is a hot cover.
Second, Hi, Leanne! Nice to have you in the dungeon!
Third, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is the best movie ever. Ever. I could so burst into song right now.
Between the guy and the name emblazoned across the front, I’m judging a book by its cover…and I’m thinking I should get me some of it.
First DITTO what Maisey said. All of it.
And would like to add, YAY!!!! for getting back to your humor. You do humor well in your stories. I for one LOVE humor in what I’m reading.
Can I be Leanne when I grow up? Pretty please with shirtless men on top?
Good morning, all, & welcome to The Dungeon, Leanne! We’re delighted to have you!
I didn’t say it in the post, but I totally agree—that is one HOT cover. I love it. I love the one for PROPOSAL, too, even tho there’s a gal involved.
Yeah, the girl doesn’t bother me so much. I would use my belly as a weapon and just shove the lady aside…and try not to puke on McHottie’s shoes…blech. Flu. Not a good day. So I’ll probably be lingering here throwing innuendos around since I don’t wanna move.
I LUV a good series!! I like when they release them close together too!! Please enter me, then I won’t have to buy them all!! LUV the new Xmas pics here on the site too!! Happy Holidays!! Thanks, Sue
Leanne…Wow!!! 50 books. Thats awesome, do you ever have time for a vacation?
Leanne:
I can’t wait for the new series – I love your books and always love when you’ve got something out for Desire.
Congratulations on five books in 2010!
Addison
Hi Leanne, That is one HOT cover, what a hunk I absolutely love your books and I love the names you give your guys they are all MACHO names… I look forward to 2010 an all the new ones to come out… your one of the first names I look for each month when the new books come out because I know I will love the book.. Thanks for writing and for visiting today…..Heidi I love the new little guys
That is a very nice cover!
Hi Leanne..Welcome to the Dungeon…I’ve been a fan of yours for a long time now! and if i see your name on a book i know it will be a good one!In fact i have an old one right here on my desk….Ridge: The Avenger.
Cant wait for the new one to come out!!
I always love finding new authors to read! I’ll definitely have to pick one of hers up! (I’m relatively new to the reading romance genre, I’ve only been in the game for about a year!)
And as an aside, that man is on a lot of romance novel covers, quite a few of Lori Foster’s in particular.
Is he now??? Well, we’ll have to arrange to get him on mine…and to have me attend a special photo shoot with all my dungeon mates…any of you blond? You could be my heroine and pose with him…
Oops…just remember what that little icon got changed to…ahem…No. You cannot pose with him doing that. Wouldn’t be appropriate.
Hi Leanne,
Congrats on the upcoming release. I really enjoyed your Bellagio Shoes books. Looking forward to reading your Medici Men series.
Maisey I have no problems changing my hair back to blonde. I think about the time they start working on the cover for your book, it will be time to change back anyway!! So I’ll make the sacrifice.
LOL…so self-sacrificing of you!
Welcome, Emily & Addison! Two new visitors to The Dungeon.
So glad you could drop by today.
Emily~ I’m not very good at keeping track of cover models, so I didn’t know the guy on Leanne’s first “Medici Men” book had been on others. I may have to do a little investigating now, tho, & check them out. He’s a good bit of eye candy, after all, & I’m always looking for hot, studly inspiration.
Just a day late, but welcome Leanne!